Red Sox hand Rays third straight loss
September 7, 2010
BOSTON (AP)—Ryan Kalish(notes) hit a grand slam, David Ortiz(notes) had a two-run shot andJon Lester(notes) pitched six solid innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over Tampa Bay12-5 Monday night, preventing the Rays from climbing closer in the AL East race.
Boston Red Sox designated hitt… AP – Sep 6, 8:01 pm EDT TB-Bos Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init(); Series at a Glance Tampa Bay 5 Boston 12 Mon, Sep 6 – Final Tampa Bay at Boston Tue, Sep 7 – 7:10 pm ET Tampa Bay at Boston Wed, Sep 8 – 7:10 pm ET
Adrian Beltre(notes) added a solo homer for Boston, swept in a three-game series bythe Chicago White Sox last weekend.
The Rays lost their third straight and remained 2 1/2 games behind thefirst-place New York Yankees, who lost to Baltimore 4-3 earlier in the day.
Boston moved within 6 1/2 games of Tampa Bay in the wild-card standings.
Lester (16-8) gave up two runs and four hits while striking out 10 andwalking three for his fifth win in six decisions.
Boston took control by scoring three runs in each of the first two innings,and broke it open when Kalish hit his slam in a five-run fourth.
Ortiz and Beltre hit consecutive homers three pitches apart in the first toput the Red Sox ahead 3-1.
In the second, Victor Martinez(notes) had a two-run single to chase Jeff Niemann(notes)(10-6). Ortiz greeted Andy Sonnanstine(notes) with a double off the Green Monster,making it 6-1.
Niemann got just five outs, getting tagged for six runs, four hits and threewalks. He’s been roughed up in all three starts since coming off the disabledlist from a strained shoulder on Aug. 25, allowing 23 runs in 16 2-3 innings.
Boston turned it into a rout by adding five off Sonnanstine in the fourth.After loading the bases on singles by Daniel Nava(notes) and J.D. Drew(notes) and a two-outintentional walk to Beltre, Sonnanstine walked Jed Lowrie(notes) to force home a runbefore Kalish belted his slam into the Rays’ bullpen in right, making it 11-2.It was his second grand slam of the season, tying a club record for rookies heldby six others.
The Rays scored three runs in the seventh to cut it to 11-5 against relieverRobert Coello(notes), making his major league debut. Scott Atchison(notes) came in and gotReid Brignac(notes) and Rocco Baldelli(notes) to pop out to end the inning with the basesloaded.
Coello gave up three hits and two walks while retiring just one batter.
Carl Crawford’s(notes) RBI single gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first.
NOTES: Bob Zupcic was the previous Red Sox rookie with two grand slams in aseason, doing it in 1992. … Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn’t come rightout and say it, but he indicated that All-Star RHP Clay Buchholz(notes) will pitchWednesday only if Boston wins the first two games of the three-game series. “Ithink we reserve the right to see how we do,” he said. “I think it’s obviouswhat I’m saying there. The plan now is to pitch Buch.” … Carlos Pena is 0 for19 since homering in consecutive games against the Red Sox on Aug. 29 and 30.… The Rays recalled Sonnanstine before the game from Class-A Hudson Valley. Hewas sent down to make room for OF Brad Hawpe(notes) on Aug. 31. … Boston SS MarcoScutaro(notes) is scheduled to have an MRI on his right shoulder Tuesday. It’s beenbothering him for about a month. … Boston recalled C Jason Varitek(notes), who was onthe DL with a broken right foot since July 2, after a two-game rehab assignmentat Triple-A Pawtucket. … The Red Sox honored former RHP Luis Tiant for hisupcoming 70th birthday. They gave him a watch and he threw out the ceremonialfirst pitch. Former players Johnny Pesky and Dwight Evans were among those onhand.
